Pneumatic cleaner.



"0. B. POSTER & W. W. GLIDDEN.

PNEUMKTIG GLENBR. APPLICATION FILED APB. l?, 1906.

Patented 881).14, 1911.`

s SHEETS-.SHEET 1.

. c. B. POSTER 8W. W. e l11111811.

.PNEUMATIG OLEANEl APPLIUATION FILED APB. 1E ,1906.

, Patented 1168111911.

's SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C.`B. FOSTER W. W.l GLIDDEN.

INEUMATIG CLEANER. APPLICATION FILED APLI?, 1906.

Patented 88.14.1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

i sfra'rns CHARLES B. FOSTER ND WLMOT W. G-LIDDEN, 0F OAK PARK, ELLINOIS.

PNE-Uriarte CLEANER.

tisanes.

Specification of Letters Ila'cent.j Patented Fol). 141s, 1911.

Application :filed April 17, 1906. Serial No. 312,170.

To all 'who/fatt may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES B. FOSTER and VVJLMo'l YV. GLIDDEN, citizens of the United States, residing at Oak lark, in the county of -Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful lmproveinent in Pneumatic Cleaners, of which thefollowing is a specification. f

rlhis invention relates to portable pneuinatic cleaners. Its chief object is the provision ofa simple device of this 'kind'in which the same suction currentis utilized for operatmg a cleaning brush and for carrying off dust and dirt and the water orother cleansing fluid, when the latter is used. A further object is to so construct the cleaner that when water is used in quantities sutilnal section of the cleaner.

cient for scrubbing Jurposes, itdoes not irnpede or interfere with the operation of the rotary motor which drives the cleaning brush.

In the accompanyingdrawings consisting of 3 sheets:- Figure l is a vertical longitudi- Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof in line 2-2, Fig. l.

Figa 3 is a bottornpplan view thereof. Fig. .Ll isa fragmentary vertical section in line 4l, Fig. 2. ,Fig. 5 is a similar section in line 5--5, Fig. 3, showing one of the adjustable arms of the brush-carrying frame. Fig. G is a perspective view of the cleaner,

artly in section. Fig. 7 is a vertical central section of a modified form of the cleaner..`

FigfS is a. top plan view thereof.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondingAl parts throughout the several" views. r

Referring erably arranged under the front portion of' the lcase and two under its rear portion,`f as .shown'in the drawings. B isa motor wheel arranged horizontally in the case A and preferably composed of upper and lower disks l), 5 and curved vanos or buckets b2 secured between the disks, ln the construction shown, the vaines are alternatelylong and shot-tand all extend inwardly from the periphery'of the disks but terminate Ashort of the-huh ofthe wheel. 'Il his wheeldissecured l to the construction shown in F1gs.l inclusive, A 1s a horizontal motor `to a vertical shaft B1 journaled at its lower end 1n a bearing carried by a removable gear case C secured to the underside of the case A., and at its upper end in a bearing arranged in an externally threaded sleeve D secured by a nutfZ and a central opening of the Coverall. Ball bearings are preferably employed, asshown. The upper end of the sleeve D is closed by a'screwplugal1 which is removed when it is desired to lubricate the upper shaft-bearing. ln the lower portion of theinotor-case is arranged alongitudinal suction lassage chamber or conduit E which extends rearwardly from the central portion of the case to the rear Wall thereof where it terminates in an internally screw threaded socket or nipple lo this nipple, the lower end of a hollow handle or tube F is attached, .as shown inlfig. 6, the upper end of this y handle being in practice connected by a hose with a-vacuuln tank' or pump (not shown) of any suitable or well-known construction.

.AS shown in rig. 1, ai@ lower disk t1. 0f the,

duit through which the motor-shaft B1 passes is surrounded by an upwardly-extending collar h which is inclosed by an annular hood or shield h1 mounted on the hub of the motor-wheel, as shown in Fig. l.

which is arranged transversely'at the front end of the device and through which the dust, dirt andwater are drawn upwardly and thence discharged rearwardly through the suction conduit E, 'as hereinafter de-4 scribed. This nozzle extends throughout the width of thejcl'eaner and its upper enel is connected with a transverse trough ory channel d which' extends across the front .side of the motor case A, the front wall of the latter'. forming the rear wall of said trough, as shown in Figs. '1, 2 and 4;

, l is a comparatively narrow suctionfnozzle K is a horizontal inlet` tube project-ing rearwardly'from the trough J and having its rear end arranged in close proximity to the periphery of the motor wheel and tan-y,A gentially thereto, so that the suction cur" rent induced through said tube impinges against thevanes of the wheel and rapidly rotates it. Y

To facilitate access to the interior of the nozzle I and the tube K for cleaning the parts when necessary, the front wall of the nozzle is preferablyhinged `at its upper edge to the motor-case A,` as ,shown at c',

` 3 and 6. This hinged wall or cover is nor mally secured in place by screws or other suitable fastenings. The suction tends to draw the nozzle I against the floor and in order to prevent marring of a polished floor or similar surface the front wall of the nozzle is'provided at its lower edge with a buifer or cushion Z'of rubber or other`suitable material.

M indicates a cleaner, preferably vconsisting of. a rotary vcylindrical brush arranged transversely on' the rear side of the suction 'nozzle I, underneath the vfront portion of the motor-case A, and =j-"adapted to detach the dust, etc., from thef'fioor, carpet orother surface to be cleaned.l Inthe construction shown in the drawings, this brush is jo'urnaled inthe free front end of a vertically swinging frame N, the side bars or arms of 'which are hinged at their rear ends to the' underside of the case A, as shown at n. The front portion of this brush-carrying frame is supported at-the proper height by a springcatch nl secured to the underside of the case and engaging with la cross bar of the frame. The brush is covered or inclosed at its ends by downward extensions A2 of the side walls of the'motor case.

-Motion is transmitted from the' motori wheel B to the brush by any suitable means.

In the preferred' construction shown`in the drawings, the brush is driven from a countersha-ft o by around sprocket wheels on said shaftand the brush shaft, andthe countershaft is in 1 Jturn' drlven from the motor-shaft B1 by a worm p secured to the latter and meshing 'f4 tershaft.

i.. ported at 'its inner end by ried wlth a worm wheel p1 mounted on the coun- This worm gearing is .inclosed by thegear-case C, and the countershaft is sup' said-case.'

permit the sprocket chain 01 htened, whennecessary, the sidev bars of t e frame N are composed of longitudinally adjustablexsections which are secured together by clamping screws a2 carby one section ofeach bar and passing through a longitudinal slot n3 in the other In order to to be ti section, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5.

g is a water delivery pipe or conduit sup-- ported on the'rear' side of the nozzle I at yor near its base and provided on4 the side acingthe cleaning brush withone or more rows otperforations g1 throughwhich the water is sprayed uponthe floor infront of fthe brush, when the-' cleaner is -used for 6.-5.,scrubbingpurposes; As bestshownin Fig.'`

3, this' pipe is connected-lat onegendwith a in Figs. Y

a sprocket chain o running i branchpipe g2 which extends along the unrderside of the case A to the rear end ofthe latter where a water is attached to it. v

r indicates one on more water discharge openings formed in the sides: of the suction conduit E and through which the. soiled water drawn through the nozzle I intov the motor case is discharged into said suction conduit and thence through the hollow handlel F into the vacuum tank from which it is' drained into the sewer from time to time.` The discharge openings r extend to the botytom of the case A and areipreferably arranged near the rear end thereof, as shown. To enable tli'e force ofthe suction through the nozzle I to be weakened under certain conditions,y the same is provided with an air inlet S which is normally closed by a movable cap, valve or plug s. A hinged cap is shown for this purpose, which remains closed bygravity and the atmospheric pressure against its outer. side when thecleaner is in use. v y y,

In the operation of theA cleaner, when the same is to be used for'scrubbing purposes, a suitable quantity of water is supplied to the spray'pipe Q and the air inlet cap s is closed. A'Upon now connecting the hollowhandle F with a vacuum tank or pump, a powerful suction current' is induced through the suction conduit E, the motor case A, the inlet tube K and the nozzle I. The air current passing` rearwardly through the tube K. eX

erts its force against; the vanes of the 'mo 100 tor-wheel at or near their outer ends, passes toward the center ofthe wheel and finally escapes through thecentral tube gthereot' into the suction conduit "and .through the hollow-handle. The motor-wheel is thus ro-N tated at a high speed and caused to drive the brush M which latteris turned in the proper direction. to' sweep the detached dirt and the soiled water forwardly toward the supply 4pipe or hose=g3 strong upward current isv induced through the nozzle, sucking upjthe/dirt `and water from the floor and carryingthe same with the air througlr the inletI tube K, the air passing through the motor-wheel and the Y and again wetting the floor. Should. it be desired -to' keep the water upon the iioor for a time tomore eectually scrub the same, the air inlet cap s isopened', whereuponthe suction'current wil be weakened to such'an 130 inlet of the nozzle I.` At the same time a 11.0

ter from flowing.- back through the nozzle y extent that it will not elevate the Water, but

will still have sufficient. powerto drive the.

brush. lVhen the soiled water is to be taken up, the cap s is again closed. j

It is apparent from the foregoingthat the same suction current is utilized for driving thc brush and carrying olf the dirt and water, producing avery effective device of simple construction by which large areas, suchas t-lie floors of office buildings, schools, factories, stores, hospitals, Ate., can b e i quickly and thoroughly cleaned.

When the device is to be used for sweeping or renovating carpets or similar dry cleaning, the water supply to the apparatus is simply shut ott, the dust being in that case drawn through the inlet tube K, niotor-wheel and suction conduit 'E and finally discharged as hereinbefore described.

Figs. 7 and '8 illustrate a modified form of the device designed to be used as a handbrush for dusting furniture and cleaning clothes, slices, &c. In this modication, the water-supplying feature is omitted, and the motor-wheel. B2 is preferably located directly above the rotary brush M1 which is circular instead of cylindrical and secured .directly to the lower end of the upright inotor-shaft B3. The main casing A3 is cir-` cular to conform totheI brush and the suction nozzle l1 encircles the brushand communicates by an ascending passage t with' the rear side of the motor-case. ln this embodiment of the invention, the axial tube g of the vmotor-Wheel projects upwa'irdly` through an opening in the bottoni of a suction passage or conduit E1 which surmounts the niotor-case and communicates with a passage u extending through the handle F1 of the cleaner and terminating in` a nipple to which the suction hose u is attached In addition to the slit forming the mouth of `the suction nozzle, the latter is preferably 'provided in its inner Wall Withsuction apen tui-es fu. In operation, this .modified cleaner,

'like that previously described, is placed against and passed over the article to be dusted, cleaned or polished, the motor rapidly. rotating the brush and the suction picking up the detached dust and discharging it thro-ugh the motor-case and the hollow handle of the device.

'llo avoid defacing furniture or similar articles, the main casing of thiscleaner is provided around itslower edge with a buffer'or cushion consisting preferably of a row of depending bristles w, as shown.'

and lower disks and vanes arranged between the samev and extending inwardly from the edges thereof, one of saidV disks having an axial opening, a suction-conduit leading to-said opening, and means for operatively connecting the brush with the niotor-Wlieel, substantially as set forth.

2. ln a` pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a motor-case, a suction nozzle communicating with the peripheral portion of the motor-case and open to tlieatmosphere at its lower end, a movable brush `arranged adjacent to said nozzle, a suction-'conduit leading to the central portion of the motoicase and having an opening in its top, a motor-wheel arranged in said case and having a lower dish provided with an axial tube which fits the opening of said .suctioir -conduit, and means for operatively. connect- 3. ln a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a motor-case, a suction 'nozzle connected with the peripheral portion of said case, a movable brush arranged adjacent to said nozzle, a motor-wheel arranged in said case7 a suction conduit leading to the central portion of the motor-Wheel and having a discharge opening connecting the same with the motor-case, and means for operatively connecting the brush with the motor Wheel, substantially as setforth. v

d. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combina tion of a motor-case, motor wheel arranged therein, a suction nozzle open to the atmosphere at its lower end,A an inlet tube communicating with the upper portion of' said nozzle and terminating adjacent to the periphery of the motor-wheel, a suctionconduit leading to the central portion of the motor-wheel, a movable brush arranged adjacent to said suction nozzle, and means for operatively connecting the brush with the motor-wheel, substantially as set forth.

5. ln a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a Amotor-case, a motor Wheel arranged tlierein, a suction nozzle open to thel atmosphere at its A`lower end, an inlet tube communicating with the upper lportion of said nozzle andterniinating adjacent to the periphery of the motor-Wheel, a suctioncnduit leading to the central portion of the CIK . ranged in front of the same, a trough ar- -as set forth tion conduit leading to the ymotor-Wheel,

and means for operatively connecting the brush with the 7. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a motor-case, a suction nozzle arranged between, the upper portion of said nozzle and the motor case and communicating with the nozzle,` a motor-Wheel arranged in the case, a suction-conduit leading to the motor-Wheel, a movable brush arranged adjacent to the lsuction nozzle, and means for operatively connecting the brush with the motor-wheel, substantially as set forth'.

8. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a motor-case, a suction nozzle arranged in front of the same, a trough arranged between the upper portionof said nozzleand the motor ycase and communicate lng with the nozzle, a motor-Wheel arranged in the case, an inlet tube communicating with said trough and terminating adjacent to the periphery of the motor-Wheel, a sucl tion-conduit leading to the central portion of ,the motor-Wheel, a movable brush arranged adjacent to ,the suction nozzle, and

means for operatively connecting the brush 'motor-Wheel, substantially forth. y

`9. In a pneumatic c1e'aner,-thel combination of a motor-case, a motor-Wheel g arranged therein7 a movable brush driven by said motor-wheel, and a suction-nozzle a1"- rangedadja'cent to the brush and having a Xed rear section anda hinged front Wall or section, substantially at set forth.

10. Inapneumatic cleaner, the combination of a horizontal motor-case, a suction' nozzle connectedwith the front portion thereof, a motor-wheel arranged -i'n said case and mounted, on an upright shaft, a hor1 zontal shaft arranged on the underside of the motor case, Y Worm-gearing lconnecting saldshafts, a rotary brush arranged on the rear side of the suction nozzle, and driving with the lnotorurheel,y substantially as set y lso means connecting the brush shaft with said f Witnesses: A. E. CLIFTON,

J. P. CLIFTON. 

